Peach Black

AIDEN'S POV 

I sat on the bare floor as I gulped down the last content of the alcohol bottle in my hand and sighed out loudly in pain. Nora had hurt me deeply, her words had pierced every piece of my heart. I still couldn't believe that things had ended between us. 

There i was, thinking that I had found the one, the perfect person to settle down with. How could she hurt me that way? She was the only woman that I had ever truly loved. I gave her everything and even tried as hard as I could to protect her from my grandmother, but what did I get in return? She took my love for granted and ended things brutally without any warning. 

I do not deserve to be treated this way, the pain I feel is soo unbearable, I am really hurting.

What did I do soo wrong to feel this way? Why does it have to hurt this much?

The sound of the door bell ringing brought me back from my wandering thoughts. I tried to ignore it, but it kept on ringing. 

I stood up in annoyance as I tried to find my way to the door. It was a miracle that I didn't stumble to the floor due to the amount of alcohol that I had consumed.

I opened the door to find my grandmother alongside Evan her secretary standing next to her.

"Oh great... you're still alive! And there I was thinking that something bad had happened to you" she stated 

"What are you doing here ma?" I asked as I used my hand to support myself against the wall. My head was beginning to spin as I struggled to stand still.

"What do you mean? It's obvious that you're drunk" she stated and walked passed me into the apartment with Evan following behind her.

I shut the door and walked towards them. I could see the look of disgust on her face as she scanned the living room. I had three bottles of alcohol and a glass cup laying on the floor.

"Why didn't you show up at the office today?" She asked firmly 

"It's no big deal grandma, it's just a day " I replied her as I sat on the chair.

"Its no big deal? Are you even listening to yourself?" She asked in a disappointed tone. " Aiden is this how you're going to lead when you become the CEO? Absolutely not! Definitely not under my watch!" She added 

It was no surprise that she disapproves my behavior. Nothing I ever do sits well with her, she would always find a fault one way or the other. I was trying as hard as I could to be the perfect grandson that she has always wanted. Now that I was heartbroken, don't I deserve the right to grieve and hurt in peace?

"I'm sorry grandma, but I don't feel too well" I replied in a low voice 

"Ofcourse you're don't, how would you feel well after consuming this amount of alcohol?" She pointed to the empty bottles on the floor. " You look like a total mess right now Aiden, I am very embarrassed for your sake " she added and then took a sit adjacent to mine.

"I'm sorry" I started. I figured there was no point in arguing with her because she was eventually going to have the final say. " It wasn't my intention to skip work, but I just couldn't help it because I had to deal with something personal" I explained 

She raised her brows at me, I was ready to receive a earful from her. 

"Something personal? What could be soo personal enough to make you skip work and get yourself drunk?" She asked 

There was no point in hiding anymore, afterall Nora and I were no longer together.

"Nora ended things with me" I blurted out. 

I waited for her reaction but got nothing.

"She found out about the PhD offer, and then broke up with me, leaving me heartbroken" I continued. " I tried to explain things to her that I haven't even made any decision about it yet, I told her that I was willing to work things out even if I had to leave, I was willing to fight for us, for what we have. But what did I get in return? A huge break-up!" I blurted out sadly as I stared into space.

Grandma was still silent.

"I am soo lost right now Ma, Nora hurt me...she really did. I can't believe that she could end things without hesitating and thinking about my feelings." I continued. " Our one year anniversary is approaching and I really had plans for it..... How could she just end it like that?" I asked rhetorically and was about to reach for my drink when grandma signalled to Evan to stop me from grabbing it.

"That's enough Aiden! You need to get a hold of yourself" she stated loudly. 

I stared at the floor in pain and shame.

"You need to man up and get yourself together! Don't even get me started on why you were dating her in the first place despite my warning not to." She Scolded. "I always knew the relationship wasn't going to last, you both are very different from each other , the difference in background was just too much to ignore"

"But I love her...." I tried to defend 

"Nonsense! It's obvious that you still have a lot to learn. If you want to be the CEO you need to know how to separate your emotions from every other aspect of your life. I had always known that this was going to happen eventually, she is your weakness and that is a red flag! A leader shouldn't let his emotions be controlled by his love life, the entire Hart family have a very strong legacy to uphold, or how do you think i'v been able to maintain my position as the CEO for the past 25 years?" She asked firmly 

I already knew I was going to have to listen to her lecture.

"I am actually glad that she came to her senses and ended it before it got too deep" Grandma continued 

Too deep? Wasn't this the same statement Nora made?

"You need to get yourself together Aiden. You have a duty to fulfill, the duty of taking over from me when I retire.......you need to leave for your PhD program as soon as possible, once you are certified, you would be qualified for the position to take over the company " 

I carefully listened to her words. 

I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave or not, a part of me still wanted to pursue Nora, to make her understand how much I want things to work for us.

"You are going to co-head the branch over there" she added 

" But....but what if I decide not to go?" I asked 

She scoffed out in annoyance.

" You dare not defy me Aiden! This has been in the plan ever since you were born, if you don't become CEO then who else would? Are you going to give the position to a stranger?" She rose to her feet as she asked. 

I watched as she walked up to me and held my face in her hands.

"Listen to me Aiden, are you going to give up your position for a woman who doesn't even care about you? For a woman who is making you feel this much pain? Use your head for Christ sake! I didn't raise you to become a weakling,.......to become a slave to your emotions!" She stated to my face.

Then her words hit me. 

Grandma was right. Why was I hurting over a woman who wasn't even worth it?

If she could break up with me just like that, it only means one thing, it only means that she never really loved me. She didn't love me enough.

The realization of that fact began to dawn on me. 

If Nora could leave just like that, then I am going to make sure that I forget her forever. 

"You're right ma...... i'v been soo stupid, I let my emotions cloud my thinking" I blurted out 

"Good. I am glad that you are coming to your senses " She replied and released my face in the process.

"I was a fool for love, but not anymore. Nora is going to be the last woman that I am ever going to be vulnerable with" I vowed 

The last woman I'd ever love and let to influence me emotionally.

I would leave the country and return to claim my position as a powerful CEO of the Ingrid group of companies.